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3/30/18

Eight more Russian diplomats are to be sent packing from Belgium and
one from Ireland, but Russia's EU envoy is to stay in place.

The Belgian tally included seven to be expelled from Russia's mission
to Nato, which is located in Brussels, and one from Russia's embassy to
Belgium.

"Russia has underestimated the unity of Nato allies," Nato head Jens
Stoltenberg said, announcing the move, which came in response to
Russia's attempt to kill a former spy in England using a chemical weapon
earlier this month.

"It sends a very clear message to Russia that it [its UK attack] has costs," he added.

The Belgian prime minister's office said it was committed to an "open and frank dialogue" with Moscow despite its move.

The Irish leader, Leo Varadkar, said the same day that he had
expelled a Russian diplomat despite his country's history of neutrality
in European conflicts.